Unvaccinated Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers hinted his playing career may be coming to a close, and said he didn’t think it ‘would end like this’ after stunning 13-10 loss to the 49ers Saturday.
Speaking after the shocking loss in Green Bay Saturday, Rogers said he felt. ‘A little numb, for sure,’ adding: ‘I didn’t think it was going to end like this.’
Rodgers said he will take time to have conversations with ‘people around here’ and make a determination about his future before the start of free agency.
Following a loss in the divisional playoffs Saturday night at Lambeau Field, Rodgers’ next move has never been more uncertain as he wrapped his 17th season with the Packers.
‘I’m going to take some time and have conversations with the folks around here and then take some time away and make a decision – obviously before free agency,’ Rodgers said Saturday postgame.
In an ESPN profile that was published Friday, Packers star Rodgers said he didn’t think his career ‘would end like this’ after stunning 13-10 loss to the 49ers last week as he blasted the White House in response to President Biden’s offhand comment that the quarterback should get vaccinated
‘But it’s fresh right now. It’s a little shocking for sure. Definitely was hoping to have a nice week after the NFC Championship to enjoy the lead up and then start contemplating some things. I haven’t even let the moment really sink in yet.’
‘I think this thing, it’s definitely going to look different moving forward in Green Bay,’ Rodgers said. ‘There’s a lot of decisions, a lot of guys with opportunities, so it’ll be interesting to see what things look like moving forward.
‘But I’m thankful for this time, this team. Super disappointed, bummed out, frustrated with how I played tonight, frustrated with how it ended, but still deeply grateful for this season and these guys.’
Rodgers said the looming questions and subsequent changes have caused him to think about whether a Super Bowl is still possible with the franchise.
‘There are a lot of decisions to be made and key players, a lot of guys who played tonight,’ he said. ‘Obviously Davante is the best receiver in the league, and he’s a free agent, knowing they can obviously tag him.
‘Allen Lazard, Robert Tonyan, so many guys’ contracts are up or on the brink or salary cap stuff, so lot of decisions to be made. I don’t want to be part of a rebuild if I’m going to keep playing, so a lot of decisions in the next couple months.’
Rodgers said he didn’t think his career ‘would end like this’ after stunning 13-10 loss to the 49ers on Saturday
Rodgers, who tested positive for COVID in early November, was heavily criticized in the aftermath of his diagnosis, being accused of lying and trying to conceal his vaccination status
President Biden told local Packers fans that Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers should ‘go get vaccinated’
In an ESPN profile that was published Friday, Rodgers spoke heatedly about Biden recently labeling COVID-19 the ‘pandemic of the unvaccinated.’
‘When the President of the United States says, ‘This is a pandemic of the unvaccinated,’ it’s because him and his constituents, – which I don’t know how there are any if you watch any of his attempts at public speaking — but I guess he got 81 million votes,’ Rodgers told ESPN.
Back in December, while touring tornado damage in Kentucky, Biden was caught on camera telling a Green Bay Packers fan, ‘Tell your quarterback he’s got to get the vaccine.’
The president’s personal plea to his favorite team’s star quarterback came a month after Rodgers admitted he had not been vaccinated against COVID-19, despite telling reporters in August that he was ‘immunized’.
The 38-year-old athlete tested positive for COVID in early November, at which time it became known he was not vaccinated.
Rodgers was heavily criticized in the aftermath of his diagnosis, being accused of lying and trying to conceal his vaccination status.
The Packers are projected to be $44.8 million over the 2022 salary cap and other major decisions share the front burner with the Rodgers outcome. Wide receiver Davante Adams wants to be the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver and said last year there will be no hometown discount to stay in Green Bay.
To keep Rodgers, the Packers would need to sign him to a long-term extension. His cap charge in 2022 is $46 million, negotiated intentionally by Rodgers last offseason when his disdain for the front office came to light.
But Rodgers wants more than that. He was open Saturday about not standing for a rebuilding situation, and has previously stated he wants to have input on personnel around him.